Toledo Religious Leader Faces Charges

TOLEDO — A well-known Toledo Orthodox bishop faces charges for a sex crime after he was arrested in a northern Michigan casino.

54-year-old Demetri Khoury is charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct as well as a misdemeanor charge of disorderly drunk. He’s accused of groping a woman who was gambling.

Police say the bishop got out of hand Wednesday night at Turtle Creek Casino in Traverse City, Michigan. According to prosecutors, casino security cut him off from drinking because he was being disorderly, and then he allegedly squeezed the breast of a woman who was playing a slot machine. Police say surveillance videotape from the casino shows the incident taking place. Bishop Khoury was arrested and arraigned in a Michigan court Thursday.

Since 1995, Khoury has been a bishop in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and he lives in west Toledo. The bishop oversees dozens of churches across the midwest including St. George Orthodox Cathederal. Today, church members found it hard to believe that their religious leader could do something like this.

”We just got here and this is the first I’ve heard about it and all I can think of is this man is a beautiful, wonderful man, very humble. It’s just a total shock to me. I’m just so surprised and shocked,” said Sharon Grzywinski.

”He has been wonderful to go to when we’ve had problems. He’s just a very humble, religious man and we truly love him and I personally stand behind him no matter what,” said Chuck Cassis.

Bishop Khoury posted bond and a Michigan judge is allowing him to travel back and forth from Ohio to Michigan for his court hearings.